Affiliate program vs 'Refer & Earn' — which one should you join?
Review Monitor runs both — a cash-commission affiliate program for creators, and a free-access Refer & Earn for happy customers. Here's exactly which one fits which person.
Review Monitor runs two referral programs, and they exist for different people. Confusing the two is the single most common mistake we see — this piece exists to sort them out cleanly.
The one-sentence difference
Affiliate is a cash-commission program for creators, agencies, and marketers who want recurring income from external audiences. Refer & Earn is a free-plan-access program for happy customers who want to share the tool with peers.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Affiliate | Refer & Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Creators, agencies, marketers | Existing happy customers |
| Reward | 50% recurring cash | Free access matching friend's plan |
| Cookie window | 60 days | Direct link only |
| Payout | Monthly PayPal / bank | Automatic account credit |
| Promo assets | Full brand kit | Personal referral link |
| Discount for referred user | You set (0-30%) | Automatic 20% for 3 months |
| Dashboard | Full analytics | Simple share link |
Which one is yours
The two programs are not exclusive. You can promote publicly through Affiliate and share personally through Refer & Earn — different links, different rewards, no policy conflict.
What each dashboard looks like
Affiliate dashboard shows clicks, signups, active subscriptions, monthly recurring commission, and pending payouts. Refer & Earn dashboard shows referred friends, their plan status, and the corresponding free access you've earned. Both live inside every Review Monitor account under the same account menu.
Where to go
- Creator / agency / marketer: [/affiliate](/affiliate)
- Happy customer sharing with a peer: [/refer-and-earn](/refer-and-earn)
Thousands of local businesses across 40+ countries — restaurants, hotels, salons, clinics, home services, retail — use Review Monitor as their single source of truth for every review that touches their brand.
